Husky air compressors

[brainpause]

Anybody with experience with Home Depot's Husky air compressors? They have a 26 gallon job with accessories for 299.00 now. I have a sudden need for a new air compressor.

Wifey keeps asking me why I burn up air compressors. My reply was, "Because I keep trying to be cheap. I need to buy a good one." I was running (small) air tools every now and then with the Coleman Inflationmate, but mostly to fill tires and a 5 gallon air tank.

I looked at a Porter-Cable, because it is made locally, but I looked at the package, and it is only assembled locally, not really "made". And it was $100 more for less power, tank, etc.

If not Husky, what other recommendations?

Larry

[waygard33]

I recently went to Home Depot to purchase an air compressor. I was after the small Porter Cable with the 6 gallon tank. They only had them in kits including several nailers. I wasn't interested and started looking at the Husky. I ended up purchasing the 6 gallon (I think) Husky with the wheeled base and handle.

I went home to research my new compressor on the net before opening the box. What I found was a whole mess of articles on how Husky was accused of false advertising. Apparently, their marketing material did a lot of talking about 'made in america' even though it wasn't exactly true.

I decided to take the Husky back to HD. I ordered the Porter Cable online from Amazon.

I wasn't satisfied with my search results on Husky. All the info I dug up was just small bits and pieces of larger articles. I did not find any direct info regarding the quality of their equipment, like you would find in consumer reports. So take my info for what it is worth. I must admit I was leaning towards the Porter Cable and was easily talked out of the Husky. However, if I had found anything stating it was 'made in america' and that it was reliable, I would have gladly kept it.

Good luck

[wavery]

I have had this one for a couple years. I use it a lot. I've had no problems with it.

It's made in China, in case that's an issue for you.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90234

[austinado16]

My advice on buying a compressor is; never buy an "oil less" version because they are cheap, and unbelievably loud.

Even if you have to get on Craigslist or similar and find your self an old school twin cylinder compressor, with seperate electric motor driving a big flywheel...do it.  They last forever, and they aren't "that" loud.

I've got an old Craftsman horizontal on wheels.  Runs on 110v, twin cylinder, and is maybe a 12gal tank with a 1hp motor.  $40 at the local swapmeet.

[wavery]

My advice on buying a compressor is; never buy an "oil less" version because they are cheap, and unbelievably loud.

I agree, the oiless compressors burn out rather quickly.

The Harbor Frt one is not oiless. It holds about 1 qt of compressor oil (sold separately). I use mine about twice a week for various jobs around the apt building. I also run all air tools and paint sprayers.

When paint spraying, it needs to take time to build up pressure about every 2 minutes. If you're going to be spraying, the bigger tank is better.

Austin16 is right though.....those older Craftsman compressors last forever. These Chinese things seem to burn up rather easily (however, mine has done well). They are aluminum with cast iron sleeves. It seems that the expansion/contraction differential causes the head to warp after awhile.

[austinado16]

I use mine about twice a week for various jobs around the apt building. I also run all air tools and paint sprayers.

When paint spraying, it needs to take time to build up pressure about every 2 minutes. If you're going to be spraying, the bigger tank is better.

They are handy and once you have one, especially if you're a DIY'er, you'll wonder how you got along without.  Keeping your bike, automotive and trailer tires aired up, blowing dust out of stuff, doing a quick clean on air filters.....and then once you start getting some air tools, you'll be rotating your own tires, die-grinding stuff, you'll buy some different air staplers and nailers......and on and on!

That's why I'm all about the old school compressors......cheap, bulletproof, spend the money you save on air tools, and if the compressor fails, you go grab another old one, and keep on going.

[wernstriumph]

I have the Husky 6 Gal compressor and I HATE it. I've had it for about a year and can't wait for it to burn up. I had a Porter Cable 6 Gal that lasted me 2 yrs and I loved it, but I burned it up trying to blow the lines out on the PUP ( oilless ones aren't ment to run for 15 min constantly, and yes it was MY fault). Trying to replace it was a chore as Home Depot didn't carry JUST the compressor, I would have to buy the kit with the nail guns etc. and I have all that stuff already. The closest thing to the Portet Cable was the Husky, so I bought it and realized it was not the same thing. The Husky doesn't have the cfm that the Porter Cable did (You can tell the difference using a finishing nailer).
 Anyway, I did some research and found out the Husky's are made by Campbell-Hausfield(sp?) but none of the parts from their own line are interchangeable with the Husky. Can't wait till it blows up! Of course now it will probably run forever just to spite me.LOL!

[TheViking]

I got a 6 gallon Husky compressor i bought from HD to put in the toyhauler.  I haven't used it a whole lot but it seems to work fine.

[campdaddy]

Austin16 is right though.....those older Craftsman compressors last forever. These Chinese things seem to burn up rather easily (however, mine has done well). They are aluminum with cast iron sleeves. It seems that the expansion/contraction differential causes the head to warp after awhile.

Have to concur on this one. I don't know about the newer ones, but I've had a 30gal 5HP Craftsman for almost twenty years. It doesn't see too much work these days, but in the last 20 years I've used it to put a 40X15 deck on the house. I've painted cars, and done quite of bit of automotive work. I've blown out water lines and recharged water tanks. This thing has never missed a beat. It's in semi retirement these days as I've slowed down on the number of projects I take on. If it ever does burn out, I don't know what I'd do to replace it; I doubt they make 'em like that anymore.

[TheViking]

I've got a 33 gallon Craftsman in my garage that is only a couple of years old and I love it, but I didn't want to spend the big $$ for a small one for the Toyhauler, so I went with the Husky for that.

[brainpause]

I've got a 33 gallon Craftsman in my garage that is only a couple of years old and I love it, but I didn't want to spend the big $$ for a small one for the Toyhauler, so I went with the Husky for that.

I re-opened my thoughts about Craftsman, as I have seen a few, like you, that like their Craftsman compressor. However, when investigating them at the Sears website, they have A LOT of negative reviews. Of course, they have a lot of positive reviews, too.

I couldn't find enough about the Husky. I think I'll skip the Husky, but I haven't purchased anything yet.

I almost bought a nice Dewalt upright the other day. But, again, I saw several bad reviews; in fact, at one website, there were only 2 reviews, and they were both bad. That said, we used a Dewalt Emglo like there was no tomorrow in Honduras a couple of weeks ago. It sat in the middle of dust and mud, and never quit.

If I had to buy right now, I'd buy the twin-stack Ingersoll-Rand at the Tractor Supply website. Great reviews everywhere in the I-R's. Probably why they are a little more expensive: They may be a little better built. Problem is, the model I want isn't available (at the sale price) at the local Tractor Supply stores, and the online TSC is out of inventory. So, it's like a false price/sale, which is a little aggravating.

Larry

[wavery]

It's hard to find a new "Belt driven" compressor but they really are the best.

I took a quick look on craigslist and found a few used ones in Tennessee. Not sure what area you're in.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/577548086.html

http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/591506897.html

Here's a couple direct drive compressors:

http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/tls/554567451.html

http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/595629603.html

[austinado16]

Seriously, don't waste your time or money on an "oiless" version. They are junk and are so deafingly loud you'll hate it.  My brother made the mistake of buying one of the big $400 Craftsman uprights, and it fit nicely in the corner of his small shop.  When it comes on, you either leave the building, or you put your fingers in your ears.  It's ear splitting.  I think the only reason why he didn't immediately return it, is because a shipping truck had delivered it, and he didn't want to deal with figuring out how to get it shipped back to the store.